He set his squad the task of doing the league and cup double and this weekend at Principality Stadium they can achieve the first half of their target by beating Penallta in the SSE Swalec Plate final.
As to the second half of the job, they currently sit five points clear at the top of SSE Swalec Division 1 East with two games in hand on their nearest rivals – Penallta!
As if that wasn’t enough for the village club, who were founded in the same season that the WRU Challenge Cup kicked-off, 1971/72, they are also into the final of the Glamorgan Silver Ball and their second team, captained by one of Mark’s sons, second row Alex, picked up the Keith Jones Cup with a 24-13 win over Llantwit Fardre last weekend.
“I wanted the players to have ambition and play with passion and so we set them the target of winning the league and the Plate. Having a cup run that takes you to the Principality Stadium is a wonderful thing for a village club like ours,” said Dummett.
“I’ve been preaching to the players all season that they are good enough and talented enough to do the double and I’ve got 26 players in the first team squad. They are quite a few who are good enough to play in the Premiership and I think we can more than hold our own if we go up to the Championship next season.
“We’ve had magnificent support from everyone connected to the club and we’ve got six bus loads of supporters travelling down to Cardiff with us. It’s going to be a big day out for the whole village – an occasion of which we hope we can all feel very proud.
“We’ve already played Penallta twice in the league and beaten them – 6-3 at home and 28-10 down there. We know each other very well and we are fully aware of just how good and dangerous a side they are.
“But we will travel to the game feeling confident in our own ability. Our defence this season has been superb and we’ve got a good, strong pack in which Robson Blake and Aaron Harris have been outstanding.”
Blake is on his way to Principality Premiership club Bedwas next season, while Harris followed Dummett, who coached him at youth team level, from Merthyr to Bedlinog. A visit to the home of Welsh rugby will be nothing new for the Merthyr duo.
“I took the Merthyr Youth team to the old Millennium Stadium in 2008 for the Welsh Youth Cup final against Bonymaen in 2008 and we won. Aaron was in that side, along with another current Bedlinog player, Andrew Murphy,” recalled Dummett.
“That was a great occasion, and a great season for that team, but I guess this weekend’s trip to the Principality Stadium will have to be up there as the greatest moment in my 22 year coaching career – especially if we can take the cup home with us!”
‘The Foxes’ were founded in 1971 and currently field two senior teams and a women’s side. Next season they will be launching rugby for the under 7 and 8 age groups within their junior section.
Currently sitting at the top of Division 1 East, the club has risen from District Leagues to the verge of the Championship in 15 years, winning promotion from Division 7 to Division 1.
SSE SWALEC Finals Day Sunday 1 May
SSE SWALEC Bowl final Burry Port v Taffs Well 1pm
SSE SWALEC Plate Final Bedlinog v Penallta 3.15pm
SSE SWALEC Cup Final Carmarthen Quins v Llandovery 5.35pm
Tickets for the day £10 for adults, £5 under 16s from www.wru.wales/tickets
